CVE-2000-1113 in Windows Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows Media Player allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a malformed Active Stream Redirector (.ASX) file, aka the ".ASX Buffer Overrun" vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The CVE-2000-1113 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Microsoft Windows Media Player that emerged during the early 2000s era of internet connectivity. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of Active Stream Redirector files with the .ASX extension, which are used to redirect media playback to various streaming sources. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the Windows Media Player application when processing these specific file formats, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the software through network-delivered content. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered remotely through web-based attacks, making it a prime target for widespread exploitation across internet-connected systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when Windows Media Player attempts to parse malicious .ASX files that contain overly long or malformed data sequences. The application fails to properly validate the length of data within these files, allowing attackers to craft specially designed ASX content that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This overflow enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and injecting malicious code into the target system. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows memory to be overwritten, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-1113 was significant during its active period, as it allowed remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable systems with the same privileges as the Windows Media Player process. This meant that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, including privilege escalation and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because Windows Media Player was widely distributed and often executed automatically when users visited web pages containing malicious ASX content. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or peer-to-peer file sharing networks, making it extremely difficult to contain and prevent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected Windows Media Player versions through Microsoft security updates, as well as network-level defenses such as firewall rules blocking access to potentially malicious .ASX content. Organizations needed to implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted media files and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of input validation in multimedia applications and led to enhanced security practices in media player development. Additionally, user education campaigns were essential to prevent accidental execution of malicious ASX files, particularly through social engineering attacks that relied on users clicking on suspicious links or downloading unverified content from the internet.